PIGEON HUSBANDRY

INTRODUCTION
Please note that this information is intended primarily for
members of the genera Columba (includes common pigeon
or rock dove and all breeds thereof), Streptopelia (ring-
necked and related doves), and Geopelia (diamond
and related doves).

General Information
The bird order Columbiformes contains as many as 316 species
in 10 families and subfamilies. There are some species that are
currently threatened or endangered and some species have
become extinct during the past few centuries (including the dodo
bird). Although Columbids share distinct physical features with
each other there is still quite a bit of diversity within this group Pet pigeons nest building and sitting on fake eggs.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Young.
of birds. Some Columbids are tropical forest dwellers subsisting
on insects and fruit for a large part of the diet whereas our more
familiar species are primarily granivorous (eating seeds and Diet
grains). Some species are more similar to pheasants than to our Our most common species of pigeons and doves should be fed a
classic idea of a pigeon (e.g., the common pigeon or rock dove). seed and grain mix appropriate for the size of the bird. This can
Common pigeons (domestic pigeons) usually lay 2 plain white eggs be supplemented with formulated pigeon pellets or small parrot
and incubate them for about 18 days. They are prolific breeders pellets. Because Columbids swallow their food whole, they rely on
and can nest year-round if food is available. The nest is a loose powerful gizzard contractions to grind their food. There is debate
collection of straw or sticks on a ledge or, for some species, on a about whether grit in the gizzard is needed to help grind the food.
tree limb. Too much grit can cause impaction; thus, grit, especially insoluble
grit, should be offered sparingly. Soluble grit can also serve as
Pigeons are unique in the avian kingdom in that they produce crop
a good calcium source, especially for growing and laying birds.
milk for their young; the nutritional composition of crop milk is
Oyster shell and vitamin/mineral supplements (such as Lafeber,
similar to mammalian milk but it is made in the crop of both the
Nekkton, and Kaytee) can be used to balance the diet. Fruits, such
male and female parents.
as berries, may be offered as well. Greens and vegetables can be
Pigeons have been kept as domesticated species for at least provided for variety although many captive birds may ignore them.
5,000 years (possibly much longer); the common classifications of
The drinking habits of pigeons and doves are unusual. Rather than
domesticated pigeons are flying/sporting pigeons, fancy pigeons,
scooping up water in their beaks and letting it run down their
and utility (meat) pigeons, and many are kept as pets. In captivity,
throats, they keep their heads down and suck up water using their
the lifespan of commonly kept dove and pigeon species is
beaks like a straw. Make sure birds always have a clean water
10-15 years, though occasionally they will live to be 20 years old.
bowl from which to drink.
Just as with dogs and cats, domestic pigeons and doves need
homes and there are a great many available to adopt through the
growing rescue community. (See www.PigeonRescue.org for
more info.)

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Domestic Ringneck dove pets eating veggies. Photo credit: Jill McMurchy
 PIGEON HUSBANDRY

Husbandry
Most pigeons and doves can be maintained outdoors if the
climate is mild or moderate. A predator and rodent-proofed flight
cage (see below) is recommended and the birds should also have
an enclosure to escape wind and rain. A light bulb or ceramic
bulb can be provided in the winter for particularly cold weather.
Increased quantities of cracked corn, sunflower seed, or other
higher fat-containing grain can also be helpful in cold weather
to provide extra calories for maintaining body temperature.
Ventilation is important within lofts, particularly with large
flocks. Ventilation should include rafter openings to encourage
dissipation of ammonia vapors from droppings and to encourage
drying of fecal material. Use of straw, except within nest boxes,
Rescued pigeons in indoor double flight cage.
is discouraged as it provides a good medium for fungal growth.
For indoor dove cages, plain newspaper is a great substrate and
should be changed daily. For outdoor lofts, a cement floor or one
of hardware cloth with cement pavers or marine grade plywood
over it are recommended. The floor should be scraped cleaned on
at least a weekly basis to maintain acceptable hygiene. Pigeons
and doves are sensitive to mold in the environment so their cages
should be kept as dry as possible.

Pigeon and dove cages should be long rather than tall so the birds
can fly from perch to perch. A minimum recommended cage size
for a single dove is 3’ wide by 2’ tall by 2’ deep but the largest
enclosure you can afford and fit in your environment is preferred;
multiple pigeons will need an even larger cage. The more birds in
the enclosure, the larger it needs to be. These are generally social
birds so they do best with at least one friend, especially if housed
outside; most Columbid species mate for life and can become
Rescued Ringneck doves in flight cage need safe out of cage time.
territorial during breeding season. Photo credit: Elizabeth Young.
Since pigeons and doves spend most of their time on their feet,
comfortable perching surfaces are a must! Pigeons and doves in a room separate from where people sleep and with good
prefer flat shelves to branch-type perches; shelves are good for ventilation or air filtration.
strutting, courting, lounging and napping. However, a natural Routine bathing (at least once to twice weekly) is usually enjoyed
branch perch or two should also be offered. With perches, by pigeons and doves and also helps to keep their feathers
the bird’s foot will wrap around 2/3 to 3/4 of the perch if it is healthy. Try a shallow pan filled with lukewarm water or a fine
appropriately sized. At least 3 different perching options (both mist from a spray bottle or misting system.
branches and shelves) will help reduce excessive pressure being
placed on any one part of the foot. Please note that wire is not an A nest box must be offered to breeding pigeons and doves;
appropriate perching surface. however, pet pigeons enjoy having the option of somewhere
private to rest. One easy option is a 12 x 12 x 12-inch nest box
Pigeons and doves produce powder down from special feathers for chickens available at most feed stores. How to breed pigeons
on their sides. People who are regularly exposed to this powder is beyond the scope of this handout but there are many resources
down can be at risk for developing a serious allergic reaction to available online on this topic, some of which are provided below.
it. This is becoming a leading health problem for persons owning Since pigeons and doves prefer to live with a mate, egg laying is
pigeons and other powder-down producing bird species. It is a common occurrence; real eggs can be replaced with fake eggs
recommended you wear a mask when cleaning pigeon and dove to prevent undesired offspring (see resources below for more
enclosures. Birds kept indoors should preferably be housed information).
 PIGEON HUSBANDRY

Predator Proofing Outdoor Enclosures

Most cages are built to keep birds IN but don’t always succeed in keeping predators and rodents OUT. Outdoor pigeons and doves attract
predators such as cats, racoons, and raptors. To keep your birds safe, the enclosure should be sturdily built and entirely enclosed in 0.5”
(1.25cm) hardware cloth all the way around (top, bottom, and sides); there should not be any gaps larger than 0.5” (1.25cm). Chicken
wire will not be effective at keeping predators out and should never be used. Flooring and roofing can be constructed over the hardware
cloth. The ceiling of the enclosure can be half solid roof for protection from the elements and half plain hardware cloth to allow access to
sunshine and fresh air. Special attention needs to be paid to make sure doors are racoon proof.

Predator and rodent proof aviary 8’ x 8’ x 8’. Pigeons thrive year round in a safe aviary. Rescued pigeon adopter Helen and aviary.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Young. Photo credit: Gwenn Moore. Photo credit: Elizabeth Young.

Enrichment
All captive animals deserve enrichment opportunities, and doves
and pigeons are no different. For indoor (especially solitary) birds,
consider offering a mirror as many pet pigeons enjoy looking at
themselves. Indoor birds enjoy spending time with their human
family members; a centrally located cage will help them feel
included in the human flock, though one side of the cage should
be placed against a wall for a sense of security. Many birds will
enjoy time outside of the cage with their human flock; pigeon
“pants” (available online) can be used to prevent messes during
their time out of the cage. Pigeons housed in an outdoor loft with
other birds receive enrichment from spending time with their
avian flockmates.

In the wild, pigeons and doves spend a considerable portion of

their day foraging for food; captive birds can be provided with
the same opportunity. Scattering some of their feed on the (clean)
floor of the cage, on a tray, or on Astroturf placed on the cage
floor is one easy way to encourage foraging behaviors.

Self recognizing pigeons enjoy mirrors.

 PIGEON HUSBANDRY

Pigeons used for sport such as racing, tumbling, and highflying will
receive enrichment simply from training and competing. However,
indoor pigeons and doves will also enjoy the opportunity for
supervised flying time around their home as long as it can be
done safely. Pet pigeons can be trained to do simple tricks such
as coming when called, discriminating between three colors, and
targeting an object with their beaks; training should be based on
a food reward system using treats such as small pieces of peanut,
millet, canary grass, wheat grass or cracked corn. Goodbirdinc.com
has excellent training information geared towards parrots but the
training technique works on pigeons and doves as well; you can
see Barbara Heidenreich training feral pigeons in Central Park in
this short YouTube video: https://youtu.be/t5gGBI6OhkY

Pet pigeon Shadow shows off pigeon pants. Photo credit: Jill McMurchy.

Medical Concerns
Whenever acquiring new birds for your flock, we encourage you
to quarantine the new birds for at least 40 days in a separate
enclosure. An examination, fecal evaluation, and, in some cases,
bloodwork are recommended on new birds. Some potential
pathogens in all Columbids include Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci
infection), pigeon herpesvirus, trichomoniasis (also known
as canker), paratyphoid (Salmonella infection), paramyxovirus
(Newcastle) infection, poxvirus infection, adenovirus infection,
intestinal parasites such as ascarids (roundworms), and external
parasites such as feather mites and red mites. There are vaccines
available in many countries against poxvirus, paratyphoid, and
some strains of paramyxovirus; vaccines are usually recommended
for flying/sporting pigeons rather than birds that are kept strictly
as pets. Speak with your avian veterinarian to find out what
vaccines, if any, are recommended for your birds.

Zoonoses (Diseases contagious to people)

Trichomoniasis in a pigeon. Photo credit: Dr. Nico Schoemaker.
• Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)

• Histoplasma and Cryptococcus (fungi that prefer to grow in

accumulated pigeon droppings)

• Allergic alveolitis (see above under husbandry)

 PIGEON HUSBANDRY

Pigeon nest. Inside pigeon loft. Spreading tail of heterozygote male pigeon.
Photo credit: Dr. Nico Schoemaker. Photo credit: Dr. Nico Schoemaker. Photo credit: Dr. Nico Schoemaker.

Summary
Pigeons and doves are fun and rewarding pets that do wonderfully in captivity as long as they are cared for appropriately. Remember that
your avian veterinarian is there to help you determine how to keep your birds happy and healthy for years to come.

References for further reading

Good resource for examples of cages for indoor birds: https://www.pigeonrescue.org/2015/09/30/is-this-a-good-cage/

Information on adopting pigeons and doves as pets: https://www.PigeonRescue.org

For detailed information on replacing real eggs with dummy/fake eggs:

https://www.pigeonrescue.org/faqs-2/how-to-replace-real-eggs-with-fakes-to-prevent-breeding/

For more detailed information on how to build a safe outdoor aviary: https://www.pigeonrescue.org/birds/creating-an-aviary/

Good information on nest boxes for outdoor pigeon lofts: http://www.drjohnlamberton.com/journey-nestboxes.htm

Good general information article on pigeon lofts and pigeon breeding:

https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/attachment/PigeonTalkDOC351.pdf

Several articles on getting started in pigeon racing can be found here:

https://americanracingpigeonunion.blogspot.com/2014/02/homing-pigeons-101.html

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 PIGEON HUSBANDRY

AAV: Setting a Standard in Avian Care Since 1980

Avian medicine is a distinct and very specialized field that requires extensive training, advanced skills, and facilities specifically designed
and equipped to treat and hospitalize birds. The Association of Avian Veterinarians was established to provide veterinarians with this
special education, and to keep them up to date with the latest information on bird health. The AAV holds an annual conference on avian
medicine and publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. AAV also makes annual contributions toward avian
conservation and sponsors studies advancing the understanding of avian medicine.

For More Information

For more information on birds, ask your veterinarian for copies of
the following AAV Client Education Brochures:

• Avian Chlamydiosis and Psittacosis

• Veterinary Care for Your Pet Bird

• Basic Care for Companion Birds

• Behavior: Normal and Abnormal

• Caring for Backyard Chickens

• Caring for Ducks

• Digital Scales

• Feather Loss

• Feeding Birds Rescued King pigeons in shelter awaiting adoption.

Photo credit: Elizabeth Young.
• Foraging for Parrots

• Injury Prevention and Emergency Care

Online Resources
Follow AAV on Facebook (www.facebook.com/aavonline) for great
• Managing Chronic Egg-laying in Your Pet Bird
tips and the latest news for pet bird owners. You can also find us
• Signs of Illness in Companion Birds on Twitter (@aavonline) and YouTube!

• Ultraviolet Lighting for Companion Birds Our website, www.aav.org, offers a Find-a-Vet tool to help pet
bird owners locate avian veterinarians around the world. We also
• When Should I Take My Bird to a Veterinarian?
offer a variety of resources such as basic bird care instructions and
• Zoonotic Diseases in Backyard Poultry more. Visit the website today!

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Association of Avian Veterinarians
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